8 Days from $3,890 USD / person
Alaska Winter Wonderland with Aurora Winter Train
Sample Itinerary
Day 1 – 3
International Arrival
You will be transferred from Anchorage airport to your hotel in a private vehicle.
2 Nights
Anchorage
Anchorage is Alaska’s largest city nestled on the shores of Cook Inlet. Sandwiched between rugged peaks and tranquil water, this urban sprawl is home to nearly half of the state’s population. Don’t be surprised to see bears and moose sauntering across private yards or public parks – it’s a way of life here! The Alaska Native Heritage Center is your one-stop source for all things cultural with its traditional craft displays and dance performances. Top it off with a trip to the local museum for your fill of the region’s history. Kayaking, canoeing, and whale watching tours let you explore the area by water, while scenic flight tours are a great way of discovering glaciers. Dog sledding remains a favorite pastime of visitors, followed closely by gold panning at the local mines. Back in town, dining experiences turn into gourmet feasts with fresh seafood and local produce dominating the culinary scene.
Hotel options
Embassy Suites by Hilton Anchorage – Opt 1
Room
Suite
Meals
Breakfast
Style
International
Hotel Captain Cook – Opt 2
Room
Junior Suite
Meals
Room Only
Style
International
Day 3 – 5
You will be transferred from your hotel to Anchorage train station in a private vehicle
Board your train from Anchorage to Talkeetna (Duration: 3hrs)
2 Nights
Talkeetna
Talkeetna is all that you would expect in a typical Alaskan small town. Tucked into the Mat-Su Valley, this picturesque town with its colorful old buildings gives off an artsy vibe. Nestled at the foothills of majestic Denali, North America’s tallest mountain, it is a convenient base camp for climbing expeditions to major peaks. Log cabins and clapboard storefronts testify to its past as a gold mining center. The small museum in town chronicling the adventures of early climbers is worth a visit. Flightseeing tours offer panoramic views of the mountains and can even include glacier landings. Riverboat and jet boat tours enable you to explore the waterways and navigate deep into the canyons. Fishing and horseback riding are some of the activities that let you soak in the scenic beauty of the region. Sampling the local specialties at cozy cafes and browsing local galleries are excellent ways of unwinding after a busy day of outdoor fun.
Hotel options
Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge – Opt 1
Room
Mountainside Room
Meals
Room Only
Style
Lodge
Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge – Opt 2
Room
Mountainside Room
Meals
Room Only
Style
Lodge
Day 5 – 6
You will be transferred from your hotel to the Talkeetna Train Station in a shuttle organized by your hotel. The frequency of the transport service meets with the train schedule. Transportation services are not booked in advance, they are based on first-come-first-serve basis.
Board the Aurora Winter Train departing from Talkeetna at 11:25 hrs and arriving in Fairbanks at 20:00 hrs
You will be transferred from Fairbanks train station to your hotel in a private vehicle.
1 Night
Fairbanks
Fairbanks is the second largest city in the state of Alaska with all the charms of small town life. It is a favored base camp with adventure-seekers and explorers en route to the Alaskan Interior or the Arctic region. An excellent year-round destination, there is plenty to keep you busy come summer or winter! Rafting and kayaking down the Chena River appeal to adventure lovers while golfing and fishing are for those who prefer a relaxed pace. Pioneer Park stands as testimony to the city’s historic past of gold mining, and art galleries are filled with exquisite displays of local handicrafts for you to browse. The onset of winter brings with it dog sledding, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing expeditions. Meanwhile, the hot springs are perfect for rejuvenating with a leisurely soak after every exciting adventure. Fairbanks makes for an especially unique destination during the Fall and Winter months, with the Northern Lights shining through the darkness!
Hotel options
SpringHill Suites by Marriott – Opt 1
Room
King Suite
Meals
Breakfast
Style
Apartment
Pike’s Waterfront Lodge – Opt 2
Room
Aurora Cabin
Meals
Room Only
Style
Lodge
Day 6 – 8
Your chauffeur will drive you from Fairbanks to Chena Hot Springs in a private vehicle (Duration: 1.5 hrs)
2 Nights
Chena Hot Springs
Chena Hot Springs is an unincorporated community organized around the area’s hot springs in the Fairbanks North Star Borough in Alaska. Gold miners discovered the springs in 1905 and used them for rest and relaxation after a hard day’s work. Though there are some year-round residents in the area, Chena Hot Springs is essentially a privately owned, 440–acre resort about 50 miles from the town of Fairbanks at the end of Chena Hot Springs road. The springs themselves are at the center of a vast geothermal area with water so hot that it must be cooled before you can get in. Geothermal renewable energy tours are offered daily to showcase the resort’s renewable energy projects. There’s plenty to do outdoors, including dog mushing, mountain biking, horseback riding and canoeing. The area is also a great place to see the northern lights in winter.
Hotel options
Chena Hot Springs Resort – Opt 1
Room
Moose Lodge Room
Meals
Room Only
Style
Resort
Chena Hot Springs Resort – Opt 2
Room
Moose Lodge Room
Meals
Room Only
Style
Resort
Day 8 – 8
Your chauffeur will drive you from Chena Hot Springs to Fairbanks in a private vehicle (Duration: 1.5 hrs)
Fairbanks
Fairbanks is the second largest city in the state of Alaska with all the charms of small town life. It is a favored base camp with adventure-seekers and explorers en route to the Alaskan Interior or the Arctic region. An excellent year-round destination, there is plenty to keep you busy come summer or winter! Rafting and kayaking down the Chena River appeal to adventure lovers while golfing and fishing are for those who prefer a relaxed pace. Pioneer Park stands as testimony to the city’s historic past of gold mining, and art galleries are filled with exquisite displays of local handicrafts for you to browse. The onset of winter brings with it dog sledding, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing expeditions. Meanwhile, the hot springs are perfect for rejuvenating with a leisurely soak after every exciting adventure. Fairbanks makes for an especially unique destination during the Fall and Winter months, with the Northern Lights shining through the darkness!
International Departure
Price & Inclusions
Prices are in USD and exclude international flights. This trip price is based on low season rates for accommodation and other applicable services, and may change depending on availability, currency fluctuations and number of people traveling together. For high season prices, please contact us with your exact travel dates and preferences.
Price Includes
- Accommodation and meals, as specified in the itinerary
- Activities and excursions, as specified in the itinerary
- Transportation services, as specified in the itinerary
- Your Trip Coordination Team: Dedicated support throughout your journey, with a primary, personal point of contact. Plus, in case of emergencies while you’re traveling, our trip coordination team are available 24/7 by phone
Not Included
- Entrance fees and meals, unless mentioned in the itinerary description
- Tips and personal expenses
- Visa and tourism fees
- Travel, health, and cancellation insurance
- International airfare
What Our Guests Say
“We had an amazing trip with Katie and Kenny helping us plan our 50th Anniversay trip to Alaska to see the Northern Lights. The trip was fabulous and we were always able to get help when we needed it. I would definitely recommend using Enchanting Travels and Katie and Kenny to plan your next trip they were so helpful in the planning process as well as during our travels.”
January 2025 Rating 5/5
“Katie and Kenny did a fantastic job in both the planning stages and the actual implementation. We are so glad we had them help us with our 50th Anniversary trip.”
January 2025 Rating 5/5
“I have used ET 3 times now for trips to Africa Iceland and Alaska and am considering trips to South America and Antarctica with them. The ET team had been terrific to work with. Informed experienced accessible and responsive. I could not pick a better travel consultant team”
August 2023 Rating 5/5
“Enchanting Travels helped us plan, down to every detail, exactly what we wanted in our trip. In the early stages there was constant contact to fine-tune our trip to what our interests were. During the trip we had the confidence that our Trip Coordinator had our back.”
July 2023 Rating 4/5
“We would highly recommend using Enchanting Travels for an Alaskan vacation. They curated the experiences that we most wanted including lots of opportunities to see the beauty of the landscape, do wildlife tours for animal sighting, and gain understanding of the Native culture. We trusted the specific tours that they arranged in terms of safety (plane flights, etc). They were very supportive throughout our trip; daily check ins to ensure that the reservations for tours and hotels would all go smoothly. We were very impressed by the individual attention and support of our coordinator, Heike.”
July 2023 Rating 5/5
“Enchanting Travels makes planning your next adventure so easy. I would recommend them to everyone. We will certainly be using their services again.”
July 2023 Rating 5/5
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